Introduction: Are backpacks allowed in the grocery stores? Yes, some superstores may prohibit backpacks in their area; but, most of them allow backpacks inside the store. The reason behind the prohibition is simple, to prevent shoplifting. As there are a significant number of theft occurrences happening by the customers. Which, the grocery stores see as a crime and an absolute profit loss. You will see the “No Backpacks Allowed” sign in front of the market. However, many customers argue that this is public harassment when staff of the stores impede their ways and ask them to keep the backpacks to them. These let the controversies go on.
When and Why did they Prohibit Backpacks?
The debates all began in 2015 when a supermarket giant Walmart banned backpacks from their premises. They placed lockers in their San Mateo Boulevard and Zuni Road, Albuquerque center, and requested the customers to put their backpacks inside it. The superstore branch alone faced 155 suspected shoplifting cases in a three months period consecutively. This resulted in bringing laws into customer belongings.
At that time, Walmart was the first store to start off such an action. People not only argued but also raised questions when Walmart allowed women to keep their purses, even though the sizes of the purses were no less than competitive with the sizes of the backpacks. Some customers even contended that it would be better if the authorities asked women to leave their big-sized purses in the lockers too.
So, the rejoinder kept growing, whether backpacks should be allowed in the grocery stores or not. Here we are going to present the issues related to the arguments and the reasons behind.
Argument One: Backpacks Were Permitted Years Ago
The history shows that even Otzi the iceman from 3300 BC had a backpack with him when his remains were first found. Then in 1878 Henry Merriam revamped the structure naming Merriam Knapsack for the US Army. His design had two basic components. One is a wooden frame and the other is a soft canvas rucksack. Bag industry started following the trend.
Finally, this structure gained a new name with new look, which is Backpack in the 1910s. After that backpacks had grown like a part and parcel in our daily life. Nobody faced any question regarding carrying a backpack. So, if you are restraining the carrier of it, you must be trying to restrain his or her lifestyle.
For example, the hikers, the campers, the bicyclists, they can not imagine any second option other than a backpack as the one-stop organizer for their belongings. If they need anything to buy, where should they resort to if they are hindered from even entering the grocery stores?
Backpacks were never banned and they should never be banned in any grocery store.
Argument Two: Government Regulations Across North America Still Consider Backpacks Unsafe and Warn Against Carrying Them In Shopping Situation
Superstores are considered to be publicly used private property. Therefore, any property owner may set rules to preserve their interest. They will just notify you before the entrance and in the cash register area, that’s it. When they are asking you to leave your backpack in the front of the store, you just have to either comply with the rule or simply leave. But, whenever you are entering the place, you seem like you are agreeing upon their laws. You can not complain about it after that.
However, you are permitted to object when you see anything discriminatory or watch any stuff touching your possessions even when you let them check your bag. By law, none of them are allowed to touch anything inside the bag unless you allow them to. While checking, they can only look inside. If anything hinders their sight in the bag, they will ask you to take that thing aside using your hands, not their.
Mostly, every superstore considers backpacks unsafe as long as there are threats of shoplifting. So, you can say that government regulations across North America support this and warn against carrying them in shopping situations.
Argument Three – What About the Valuables Put Inside the Backpack? Who Will Assure Its Security?
The security of your valuable accessories is firstly on you. You are the one who is supposed to take care of them. If you are in need of groceries, you have to keep that in mind that you can not take any such things with you. Keep them in home or anywhere else where it will be safe.
If you really do not have scopes, then you should rely on the CCTVs put inside every corner of the supermarkets. Grocery stuffs are not above the rules. They are accounted for every action they take.
Argument Four – If a Woman Can Carry a Large Purse With Her, Why Can a Man Not Carry a Backpack With Him?
Backpacks are considered to be wallets for men. So, if a woman can carry their purses with them, why does a guy face obstacles carrying his backpack with him?
Actually, a woman’s purse can not be altered with anything, while a man’s backpack can be. You can carry a money bag as a wallet and shopping bags to carry your purchased items.
Yes, you can ask why you will buy a new shopping bag from the same store every time you buy something? To answer that, you can carry them folded inside your money bag or any bag smaller in look.
And also, you can ask why the women are not told to shorten their purses too? Yes, this question makes sense. If you are preventing shoplifting, you should take big purses of women as a threat as well. It is a lot easier for them than a man.
Conclusion
People tend to feel embarrassed whenever they face questions on personal things. They will argue very naturally. But the point is, when a decision is made by law, you can hardly make judgements on that.
Therefore, when backpacks are not being allowed in the grocery stores and there is clear evidence of threat behind it, you better abide by the rules and let the store and the state do the rest for you.
